OK, this one is really out there, and I thought Chris was crazy when he pulled this out. If I tell you what it’s about, you’ll never rent it. But here it is: “Lars and the Real Girl” is about a very lonely guy whose interpersonal skills are so awful that he must resort to an “unreal” girl to get a date, much to the horror of his family and neighbors. This could have turned into a teen comedy sex romp in the wrong hands; instead, it becomes a character study of a sad man and the small-town folk who help as best they can. It should have been silly & unbelievable; instead, it’s touching and well-crafted. Rated R.

You can certainly pick out the independent movies in a line-up. They’re the ones who always stay so darn true-to-life and make us celebrate the little victories without a big hollywood finale. That’s “Rocket Science“, an offbeat story  about a stuttering high school boy trying to find his voice. Does he become Class President and win the heart of the cheerleader? No, it’s i-n-d-e-p-e-n-d-e-n-t film. He lives in a world much closer to our own, where sometimes getting through the day in one piece is triumph enough. It’s a wonderful script, nice little touches that I always appreciate, and  a tremendous performance by the lead actor, Reece Thompson. Only an independent film could make a story about high school debate teams interesting. I would call this a Dramedy. Rated R.

This French film, translated “The Chorus“, is about a new teacher in a school for troubled boys and his efforts to help by teaching them to sing. It’s touching & honest, but the best part is the singing. The voice of a good boy soprano can only be compared to angel song. Once you watch the movie, you may run out and get the soundtrack! Don’t be intimidated by subtitles! The beautiful French language enhances the movie. You will laugh & cry. Rated PG-13